Process for the cleaning of razor head components



Jan. 16, 1 968 G. F. STERN 3,364,068

PROCESS. FOR THE CLEANING OF RAZOR HEAD COMPONENTS Filed Nov. 22, 1966 2Sheets-Sheet 1 llllllll/lmm i NVENTOR.

Jan. 16, 1968 G. F. STERN 3,364,068

PROCESS FOR THE CLEANING OF RAZOR HEAD COMPONENTS Filed Nov. 22, 1966 2Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

G. E STERN United States 3,364,068 PROCES FOR THE CLEANING OF RAZOR HEADCOMPONENTS Gottfried Fred Stern, 7 Broadview Road, Woodstock, NY. 12498Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 370,963, May 28, 1964. Thisapplication Nov. 22, 1966, Ser. No. 596,333

17 Claims. (Cl. 134-22) This application is a continuation-in-part ofapplication Ser. No. 370,963 filed May 28, 1964, now abandoned.

This invention relates to the cleaning of razors and, more particularly,to the cleaning of electric razors.

Although electric razors have been in popular use for several decades,no satisfactory method of cleaning the operative heads of the razorafter use has been developed. The several cleaning methods in generaluse have many disadvantages. Thus, cleaning by rubbing the inside of therazor head back and forth with a brush made up of bristles entwined in ametal spine results in damage to the delicate elements of the head whenthe Wire spine of the brush rubs against them. Also, when the brushdirection is reversed, those bristles which are bent against theelements within the head must reverse the direction in which they areinclined; this brings them with considerable pressure against theshearing edges of the head elements, cutting the bristles and dullingthe edges.

Cleaning by blowing often results in inhalation of undesirable hairclippings, since the users mouth must be brought close to the razor headand the user naturally tends to suck air in just before, and after,blowing and several breaths are usually needed. Blowing also tends todeposit fine droplets of moisture from the breath on the shaver head;this can have an undesirable corrosive effect on the carbon steel ofwhich the shearing elements may be made. Blowing is not very selective;some clippings are left on the razor head while some are so scatteredthat they come to rest on the adjacent furniture. When shaving powder isused, as is customary particularly in hot humid weather, the particlesof perspiration-laden powder caked up with the fine hair clippings areespecially difficult to remove with ones moist breath.

Another method of cleaning is by tapping the electric razor sharplyagainst a firm stationary object. This, however, removes only some ofthe hairs and other debris and increases the danger of breaking ordistorting parts of the electric razor because of unduly violent ormisdirected tapping.

There are, on the market, liquid preparations for cleaning electricrazor heads. When such liquids are employed the user generally removesthe head of the electric razor, for immersion in the liquid and agitatesthe head manually in the liquid, or in some cases immerses the head,still attached to the body of the razor, into the liquid and operatesthe razor during such immersion. These methods are cumbersome and do notgive the head a thorough cleaning in a reasonable time.

Some electric razor heads are constructed of non-corrosive material andare specially designed so that they may be washed under a stream of hotwater. Aside from inherent danger of electric shock, such cleaning istime consuming, since the razor should be dried after use. Also, thismethod of cleaning is not applicable to the most common types ofelectric razors, but requires more elaborate and expensive constructionsto protect the electric razor from the water.

It is one object of this invention to provide a novel, more efficientand sanitary method for the cleaning of electric razor heads.

Other objects of this invention will be apparent from Patent C 3,364,668Patented Jan. 16, 1968 the following detailed description and claims. Inthis description and claims all proportions are by weight unlessotherwise indicated.

In accordance With one aspect of this invention, the cleaning of anelectric razor head is elfected by directing at the head, or at theindividual parts thereof, a fine blast of a biocidal gas, preferably amixture of a propellant component gas and a fungicidal component gas,from a small, hand-held pressurized container having a finger-operatedvalve. Advantageously, the propellant gas used includes one of thepropellants customarily employed for aerosol sprays, such as a highlyvolatile, non-toxic fiuorohydrocarbon or fiuorochlorohydrocarbon. Thefungicidal component gas is advantageously formaldehyde, which is both afungicide and a bactericide and which is highly reactive with theproteins of bacteria and fungi. The pressurized container is desirablyof a size which may be conveniently held in one hand, and like the usualcommercial aerosol containers, its valve is so positioned that it may bereadily operated by the thumb, or one finger, of the hand in which it isheld. Unlike most aerosol containers, the outlet of the container isequipped with a small tube which serves to direct its output in aprecise, narrow stream, and makes it possible to blow the debris fromthe shaver head accurately into a suitable container such as awastebasket. Because of the thorough removal of foreign material, suchas hair clippings or skin particles, by the method of this invention,the resistance encountered by the innet shearing member in its movementis reduced, thus permitting the electric razor to operate at its maximumspeed and with less heating; as a result, the user can obtain better andmore comfortable shaves and avoid frequent repairs to the instrument.

The method of this invention also facilitates sales demonstrations ofelectric razors to large numbers of prospective purchasers, because ithelps to prevent the buildup of bacteria and fungi on the razor head andthe resulting transfer from one user to the next. In addition, bykeeping down the accumulation of bacteria and fungi on the electricrazor head, it decreases the danger of selfreinfection of the user andthe danger of cross-infection when the razor is used by several membersof the same family.

In the accompanying drawing, illustrating certain preferred forms of theinvention,

FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating the operation of the process,

FIG. 2 is a side view partly in cross-section illustrating one form ofcontainer,

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the valve and tube of thecontainer,

FIG. 4 is a side view, partly broken away to show a crosssection, of aparticularly preferred form of container,

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the valve, taken along the line 5-5of FIG. 4, and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the valve taken alongthe line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

In the drawing, reference numeral 1 designates a cylindrical cancontaining a liquid 3 which may be a mixture of the propellant with asmall amount of formaldehyde, the free space 5 above the top of theliquid being filled with a gaseous mixture of these ingredients. The canmay be, for example, of sheet steel, about 2 to 3 inches in externaldiameter and about 5 to 8 inches in height. At the top of the can 1,there is a finger-operable valve 7, of the usual type, comprising areciprocable valve stem 8, hollow at its upper end 9 and having a radialvalve port 10 communicating with its interior, which stem 8 is pressedupward (by a spring 11 which is mounted within a hollow valve housing12) to a position where its port is sealed by an annular rubber seal 13.A hollow pushbutton 14 having a side port is fixed atop the valve stem 8so that when the button 14 is depressed, the valve stem port 10 isdisplaced from the rubber seal 13 permitting the gas to flow through thehousing 12, port 10, stem 8, and pushbutton 14. Extending from theoutlet port 15 is a thin tube 16 which may be force-fitted to, orintegral with, the pushbutton 14; suitably the tube 16 is circular, withan internal diameter preferably in the range of about to about inch(e.g. about inch) and an unobstructed length preferably in the range ofabout A to about 1%. inch (e.g. A1 inch). The tube may, for example, bemade of flexible (high pressure) polyethylene or other plastic. Acylindrical removable cap 17, advantageously of about the same externaldiameter as the can 1, is adapted to fit tightly over the valve 7 whenthe can is not in use, with the bottom 18 of the cap 17 frictionallyengaging the outer portion of the can 1. The internal diameter of thecap 17 is sufficient to permit the tube 16 to be housed within the capwithout displacement of said tube. The cap may be of sheet steel orother suitable material.

In the cleaning process, an electric razor 21 is held in one hand,preferably close to a suitable waste container for receiving the debriswhich is blasted away from the razor head during the process, while thecan 1 is held in the other hand with the outlet of its tube 16 closelyspaced from the head 22 of the razor, preferably, as shown in thedrawing, after the usual removable razor head guard element has beenremoved. The push button 14 is depressed to cause the release of gasfrom the can 1 and the evaporation into the free space 5 of acorresponding portion of the liquid. The parts are then moved relativelyto each other so that the jet of gas emerging from the tube is directedagainst all parts of the head and, if desired, against the case of theelectric shaver and the head guard thereof.

In accordance with one aspect of this invention, the blast of gas fromthe discharge tube of the device may contain materials, described morefully below, whose vapor pressure is relatively low in comparison withthe vapor pressure of the propellant. The embodiment shown in FIGS. 4, 5and 6, facilitates the transfer of these materials into the main streamof gas.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the device includes a pushbutton-operatedvalve, indicated generally as 31, and a discharge tube 32. Unlike theembodiment shown in FIG. 2, that of FIGS. 4 to 6 has a dip tube 33extending down from the hollow valve housing 34, into the liquid 36 inthe container 37. This dip tube has a much smaller diameter (e.g. lessthan 0.1 inch, for example, 0.02 inch) than those generally used for diptubes of aerosol containers employed for the dispensing of liquids. Itis preferably a flexible polyethylene tube of uniform diameterpress-fitted into a tubular extension 38 (FIG. 5) of the hollow valvehousing 34 so that there is a clear passageway from the liquid 36through the dip tube 33 and through the interior of the valve housing34. Communicating with this passageway is an aperture 39 (which may beformed in the main portion of the valve housing 34) whose entrance is inthe gas space 41 above the body of liquid in the can. This opening may,for example, be circular and of a diameter of about 0.04 inch.

The liquid 36 is principally composed of propellant, but it contains asmall proportion of the less volatile materials which I wish to bepresent in the blast of gas. Since the gas phase, above the liquid inthe container, is derived by evaporation of that liquid, theconcentration of the less volatile materials in the gas phase is muchlower than it is in the liquid phase, and may be practically zero. Theless volatile materials are generally of a type which is normallynon-gaseous; that is, they are liquid or solid at room temperature.

It is found that when the valve 31 is operated, the gas passing throughthe aperture 39 aspirates up a small quantity of the less volatilecomponents, through the dip tube 33 thereby increasing the concentrationof the less volatile materials in the gas blast leaving the dischargetube 32.

The valve housing 34 is supported (like the housing 12) by a crimpedportion 42 cf the sheet metal can top 43. The housing may be of rigidplastic material such as polystyrene, for example.

The valve 31 carries a reciprocable valve stem 44 which operates in amanner similar to that of stem 8 in FIG. 3, being pressed upward by aspring 46 and having its ports sealed by an annular rubber seal 47, thestem and its ports being moved downwardly, to an unsealed position, whenthe push button is depressed. Like the stem 8, the stem 44 may be aunitary part, molded of rigid plastic, having an imperforate lowerportion 48 and a tubular upper portion 49. Instead of a single port, thestem 44 has three generally rectangular ports 51 extending in an almostcomplete circle around the valve stem, the individual ports 51 beingseparated only by the lower portions of three thin vertical vanes 52which integrally connect the upper and lower portions 43, 49. The largeport area permits a freer discharge of gas when the valve is operated.The stem 44 also has an integral central upstanding projection 53(within its tubular upper portion 49 and extending part way up from thelevel of the ports 51). The arrangement provides a desirable flow of gasthrough the portion 49.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the discharge tube 32 and the pushbutton 56 are both formed as portions of a one-piece molded adapter 57which has a depending annular flange 5S shaped to be snapped over, andheld by, an annular ridge 59 formed in the sheet metal top 43 of thecontainer. The push button portion 56 fits over and is aligned with theupper end 49 of the valve stem 44- in such a manner that the hollow inthe valve stem communicates with a central opening 61, in the portion56, and thus to the interior of the discharge tube. The push buttonportion 56 is free of the main body of the adapter 57 except for anintegral hinge-like connection therewith along a short line at 62, sothat the push button portion 56 can be depressed slightly by the user,thus depressing the valve stem 44 and permitting the gas to pass throughopening 61 and discharge tube 32. The adapter 57 is of suitable plastic(e.g. isotactic polypropylene) which can act as a hinge, as described.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, a plug 63 having a small central bore64 (e.g. a circular bore 0.02 inch in diameter) is press-fitted into theend of the discharge tube 32 to give the precise, narrow gas streampreviously mentioned. Also, the discharge tube is directed downwardly atan angle of, say, about 4570 (e.g. 75) to the vertical axis of the can,which makes it simpler for the user, holding the razor at a similarangle, to blow the clippings from the razor into a wastebasket orsimilar receptacle supported below the razor.

The propellent gas used is advantageously a highly volatile, non-toxicchlorofiuorohydrocarbon such as dichlorodifiuoromethane (F-l2),trichloromonofluoromethane (I -11), or dichlorotetrafluoroethane (F-ll4or F-114a). When dichlorodifluoromethane is employed, it may be blendedwith F-l l, F-114 or F-114a to depress its vapor pressure. Otherpropellants may be employed, alone or in admixture with thechlorofluorohydrocarbon; for example, a blend of F-11 and propane may beused. Advantageously, the propellant, which dilutes the highly reactiveformaldehyde and at the same time generates a sufiicient pressure toprovide a strong fine blast of the gas, constitutes the major portion,by weight, of the liquid 3. It is preferred to use propellants whichhave boiling points in the range of about 70 to +10 C. The amount offormaldehyde in the mixture need not be large;

amounts well below may be employed. Thus, while good results have beenobtained with 6% formaldehyde, it is found that much smallerproportions, such as about 1%, or less, for example in the range ofabout 0.1 to 0.6% may be employed. When these smaller proportions areemployed, the gas discharged during use has a fresh clean odor.

More suitably, a propellant such as F-l2 is blended withmonochlorodifiuoromethane (F-ZZ) using a proportion of less than 25% ofthe latter, best results being obtained with proportions of F-22 in therange of about 5 to most preferably about 10% (eg. 90% F-12 and 10%F22). The F-22 has a high vapor pressure, producing a higher pressure inthe container and a desirable high blast velocity which is moreeffective for removal of hair clippings. When F22 is used, the rubbersealing ring in contact with the valve stem should be of anoil-resistant rubber, such as neoprene (polychloroprene).

The liquid may be introduced into the can by filling the can with amixture of the propellant and paraform or other solid polymer offormaldehyde and then capping the can with the valve and, while thevalve is closed, heating the can to decompose the paraform and generatemonomeric formaldehyde to produce a substantially anhydrous mixture offormaldehyde and the propellant. In one example, 6% of paraformaldehydemixed with 94% of a blend of equal proportions of F-l1 and F-12 wasused. Trioxane may be employed together with, or in place of,paraformaldehyde.

The can may also be filled, under superatmospheric pressure, byinjecting the constituents through the valve using any of thepressure-filling devices conventionally employed for filling of aerosolcontainers. Refrigeration may be employed during filling. Thus, theindividual substantially anhydrous gases, liquefied by cooling to a lowtemperature below their boiling points, can be fed to the can or themixture of gases maintained at a temperature below the boiling point ofthat mixture can be fed to the can, all While maintaining the can at asimilar low temperature; this can be done, for example, under somepressure through the valve of the can or at atmospheric pressure beforethe can is capped with the valve.

In another filling method, particularly suitable for use in factorieswhich also pack materials, such as foods, which may be affected by thepresence of formaldehyde gas, the formaldehyde is supplied as an aqueoussolution, preferably of relatively high concentration, e.g. above 35%,most preferably above 45%, for example 70%. When such aqueous solutionsare employed with the preferred water-immiscible propellants, it isdesirable to inelude a blending agent, e.g. ethanol, to promote evendistribution of the formaldehyde in the propellant liquid. One suitablemixture contains 98.7% of a propellant which is a mixture of equal partsof F-11 and 5-12, 0.5% formaldehyde, 0.4% ethanol and 0.4% water. It isoften desirable to effectively remove the water from the liquid in thecan by including therein a dehydrating agent, which may be ofconventional type such as silica gel, in amount sufiicient to take upthe water present. Liquid anhydrous formaldehyde under pressure may beemployed in this method.

While the invention has been specifically disclosed using formaldehydeas the biocidal gas, it will be understood that the use of otherfungicidal or bactericidal gases, in place of, or in combination with,the formaldehyde is within the broad scope of this invention. Ethyleneoxide is an example of such a gas. Advantageously, the components of thegas are non-corrosive to the materials of the razor head.

It is also within the broader aspects of this invention to carry out theprocess of the invention in the substantial absence of the biocidalcomponent. In such a case, the liquid in the container will consistessentially of the propellant.

The use of a substantially anhydrous stream of gas is also advantageousin that it has a dehydrating effect on the debris on the razor head,making it less sticky and thereby facilitating its removal.

In the preferred form of the invention, the non-gaseous materials in thecomposition are of such nature, and present in such small amount, thatthe blast from the container forms substantially no liquid deposit onthe razor head and there is no tendency for the cut hairs on the shavingsurfaces of the razor to become anchored to these surfaces. In contrast,when one uses a device which sprays a liquid lubricant (e.g. an oilyliquid) onto the shaving surfaces (forming a deposit thereon noticeableto the naked eye), the cut hairs tend to adhere to these surfaces(possibly owing to surface tension of the liquid).

In a particularly preferred form of the invention, the liquid phase inthe container comprises the propellant (preferably, as mentioned above,including a minor proportion of F-22), together with small proportionsof: an essential oil, such as eucalyptus oil; an alcohol such asisopropanol; a lubricant, such as magnesium stearate; and trioxane. Theproportion of propellant is usually well above preferably above 99% ofthe liquid phase.

The essential oil gives the blast of gas a desirable fragrance and alsohas an antiseptic and fungicidal effect. The presence of the F-22, whichhas solvent properties, appears to enhance the vaporization of this oil.Other materials which may be used in place of, or in addition to, theoil of eucalyptus are paradichlorobenzene and camphor. A typicalproportion of essential oil is in the range of about 0.001% to 0.1%based on the total weight of the material charged to the container.

The isopropanol or similar alcohol has a bactericidal effect and is alsofound to increase the degree of vaporization of the essential oil. Atypical proportion of this ingredient is in the range of about 0.001% to0.1% base-d on the total weight of the material charged to the comtainer.

The lubricant helps to lubricate the moving parts of the electric razor.I have found the solid, water-insoluble metallic soap, magnesiumstearate, to be particularly suitable for this purpose. It isnon-reactive to the skin and, unlike the liquids commonly employed aslubricants for electric shavers, it gives a mild lubricating effectwithout causing the cut hairs to adhere to the razor. A typicalproportion of this ingredient is in the range of about 0.01% to 1% basedon the total weight of the material charged to the container. Themetallic soap may be added as coarse solid particles, which dissolve orotherwise disperse in the propellant; the presence of the F22 assists indispersing this ingredient. A typical proportion of the F22 is in therange of about 5% to 15% based on the total weight of the materialcharged to the container.

The trioxane, which may be similarly added to the other ingredients insolid form (e.g. as a powder), has an unusual effect. During thecleaning of the electric shaver by the blast of gas, the trioxane forms:a visible white deposit on the part being blasted, which white depositalmost immediately sublimes (causing a volumetric expansion which helpsto push the gas into all the corners and crevices). A typical proportionof this ingredient is in the range of about 0.1% to 1% based on thetotal weight of the material charged to the container.

A preferred typical charge, which fills about /2 to /3 the free volumeof the container, has the following composition:

As previously mentioned, the provision of the fine dip tube 33 and ofthe gas opening 39 causes a small amount of the relatively non-volatilecomponents to be drawn up through the dip tube 33 and to be brought intocontact, turbulently, with a large amount of propellant entering at theopening 39, causing thorough dispersion (including volatilization) inthe gas stream of the small amounts (e.g. less than 1%) of theserelatively non-volatile components. When the arrangement shown in FIGS.2 and 3 (with no dip tube) is employed, it may take a relatively longtime (on the order of several hours) for the concentration of theessential oil in the gas phase in the container to build up sufficientlyto make its odor noticeable on re-use after the discharge of sufiicientgas to clean a single electric razor head. With the arrangement shown inFIGS. 5 and 6, the odor is maintained even on quick reuse (even withoutshaking of the container before each reuse). Another less preferredtechnique for effecting more rapid buildup of the concentration of theessential oil or other perfuming material in the gas phase is the use ofa small float (e.g. of balsawood or other suitable material of lowdensity) impregnated, or otherwise treated, with the essential oil.This, in effect, provides a concentrated source of the essential oil indirect contact with the vapor space of the can. Still other lesspreferred techniques include the replacement of the long dip tube by ashort tube at whose lower end is a small cup, which becomes wholly orpartially filled with the liquid in the container on shaking of thelatter, or by a short tube at whose lower end is a porous solidmaterial, such as a sponge or similar foam or other absorbing substancebecomes saturated with the liquid on such shaking; the long dip tube mayalso be replaced by a long filament or wick leading from the liquidphase to a point adjacent the gas inlet of the valve housing.

The electric razors to be cleaned by the process of this invention arewell known to the art. Usually, such electric razors have a main bodyadapted to be held in the hand of the user and containing a suitablevibrator or other small electric motor, and a razor head which comprisesone or more stationary outer members, each having a very thin shearplate with many slots or other openings in it to rest against the skin,and a corresponding number of inner members, each of which has manyteeth or slots cooperating with the nether edges of the walls of saidopenings of the shear plate in a shearing action, the inner membersbeing held up tightly against the inside surface of their respectiveshear plates by springs or other suitable means and being reciprocatedor rotated very rapidly underneath the shear plates by the motor. Thehairs of the face which penetrate the openings in the shear plates arethus sheared off by the motion of the inner members in cooperation withthe nether edges of the walls of said openings. The widths of the slotsare very small, usually less than inch, eg. about inch.

In FIG. 1 of the drawing, the nozzle 16 is shown directing a fineconcentrated blast at an electric shaver :head whose shear plates andinner members are shaped like inverted channels, having flat slottedupper portions and integral depending parallel sides located in planesperpendicular to the plane of the upper portions, the blast being showndirected into the space just below said upper portions, where the cuthairs tend to accumulate. The construction and position of the tube 16in relation to the can on which it is mounted is such as to permit theend of the tube to approach the head components very closely, within afraction of an inch.

The autogenous pressure of the gases within the valved containers usedin this invention will generally be less than about 200 p.s.i.g., e.g.within the range of about 60 to 130 p.s.i.g. at 70 F.

It will be understood that while the invention has been illustrated foruse with a household electric razor, it may also be used with othertypes of electric razors such as the electric hair clippers used bybarbers and beauticians.

It is to be understood that the foregoing detailed description is givenmerely by way of illustration, and that variations may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit of this invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. Process for the cleaning of electric razor head components havingfinely cut hair particles thereon which comprises providing a quantityof a liquefied biocidal gas under pressure in a closed hand-heldcontainer, so venting said container to the atmosphere as to produce aconcentrated jet consisting essentially of said gas, and directing saidstream against said electric shaver head component to dislodge saidparticles.

2. Process as set forth in claim 1 in which said biocidal gas consistsessentially of a mixture of a major proportion of a propellant having aboiling point in the range of about 70 to ll0 C. and a minor proportionof a fungicide.

3. Process as in claim 2 oxane.

4. Process as in claim 2 in which the gas carries magnesium stearate.

5. Process for the cleaning of razor head components having finely cuthair particles thereon which comprises providing a quantity of a liquidin a closed hand-held container, said liquid having a boiling pointbelow room temperature and being so volatile that said liquid is underan autogenous pressure in the range of about 30 to 200 p.s.i.g. in saidcontainer, there being a gas phase and a liquid phase in said container,so venting said container to the atmosphere as to produce a fineconcentrated stream of the gas phase of said liquid, and directing saidfine stream against said head component to dislodge said particles, saidgas being non-corrosive of said head component.

6. A process as in claim 5 in which the pressure is about 60 to p.s.i.g.and said liquid comprises about 5 to 15% of monochlorodifluoro methane.

7. Process as in claim 6 in which said liquid contains a normally liquidperfurning agent.

8. Process as in claim 6 in which said liquid comprises an essentialoil.

9. Process as in claim 5 in which the gas carries trioxane.

10. Process as in claim 5 in which the gas carries a solid lubricant.

11. Process as in claim 5 in which said liquid includes a normallynon-gaseous component, said process including the venting of the gasphase of the container to the atmosphere while forming within thecontainer a stream of the gas being vented and while bringing the liquidphase in the container into close proximity to the latter stream wherebythe fine stream of gas leaving said container includes a minorproportion, less than about 5%, of said non-gaseous component.

12. Process as in claim 5 in which the amount of nongaseous material insaid fine stream is below about 1%.

13. Process as in claim 5 in which said liquid comprises a non-toxicchlorofluorohydrocarbon.

14. Process as in claim 11 in which said non-gaseous component comprisestrioxane.

15. Process as in claim 14 in which the proportion of trioxane is in therange of about 0.1% to 1%.

16. Process as in claim 12 in which the non-gaseous component comprisesa solid.

17. Process as in claim 12 in which the non-gaseous component comprisesa solid which sublimes at atmospheric pressure.

in which the gas carries tri- (References on following page) ReferencesCited UNITED STATES PATENTS Martin et a1. Schrader et a1.

Ackerman Cohen.

10 McFadden. Kaye 21-58 Vaughn et a1. Gwinn 30-41 JOSEPH SCOVRONEK,Acting Primary Examiner.

J. ZATARGA, Assistant Examiner.

1. PROCESS FOR THE CLEANING OF ELECTRIC RAZOR HEAD COMPONENTS HAVINGFINELY CUT HAIR PARTICLES THEREON WHICH COMPRISES PROVIDING A QUANTITYOF A LIQUEFIED BIOCIDAL GAS UNDER PRESSURE IN A CLOSED HAND-HELDCONTAINER, SO VENTING SAID CONTAINER TO THE ATMOSPHERE AS TO PRODUCE ACONCENTRATED JET CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF SAID GAS, AND DIRECTING SAIDSTREAM AGAINST SAID ELECTRIC SHAVER HEASD COMPONENT TO DISLODGE SAIDPARTICLES.